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Meds That Treat Anxiety

Anxiety is one of the most frequent mental health conditions, affecting 40 million adults in the United States. It's highly treatable, with many types of medications available.

SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) and SNRIs (serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors), like Zoloft, Prozac, Lexapro and Effexor, work to alleviate anxiety by raising levels of the chemical serotonin in the brain. They're not addictive, as are benzodiazepines.

SSRIs

The most common anxiety medication is selective serotonin inhibits (SSRIs), including citalopram, escitalopram, and fluoxetine. These medications are also used to treat depression and relieve symptoms of other anxiety disorders, such as obsessive compulsive disorder. It can take up one month before they begin working.

They work by increasing the amount of certain chemical transmitters within the brain. This includes serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine. These drugs are usually the first choice to treat anxiety, though doctors may also prescribe other kinds of antidepressants or benzodiazepines.

Antidepressants, such as duloxetine (Cymbalta), and venlafaxine, (Effexor) are also used to treat anxiety. They operate a bit differently from SSRIs in that they reduce the reabsorption of norepinephrine as well as serotonin, although at lower levels than SSRIs. These medicines take a long time to work and are more expensive than SSRIs.

Tricyclic antidepressants, such as imipramine Tofranil can be effective for treating anxiety disorders. However, their drowsiness and other adverse reactions are what make them less popular. Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) are another type of antidepressant that can be used to treat anxiety. However, their strict dietary restrictions and high risk of toxicity restrict their use.

Benzodiazepines can be used to treat panic attacks and anxiety in the short-term, while waiting for SSRIs and SNRIs. These drugs can trigger tolerance addiction, sedation as well as withdrawal reactions that can cause rebound anxiety, depression and even delirium. The most commonly used benzodiazepines are alprazolam (Xanax) and clonazepam (Klonopin) and lorazepam (Ativan).

Therapy is an essential part of any anxiety treatment plan. It helps you to better be aware of your symptoms and root causes. Many people find that medication and therapy both aid in coping. Some studies suggest that cognitive behavior therapy is just as effective as medications for anxiety. Talk to your doctor to determine what is the best option for you.

Benzodiazepines

Benzodiazepines can have a calming effect they reduce anxiety and relax muscles that are tense. They also ease symptoms of bodily arousal due to fear (like heart rate, trembling and trembling) and help promote sleep.

The way they function is by binding to inhibitory neurotransmitters, like gamma-aminobutryic acids or GABA which is a receptor in the central nervous system. They enhance the effects of GABA by facilitating its inhibitory effect on other neurotransmitters while reducing the amount of messages that are that are transmitted to the amygdala, which is the brain's region that detects threats and creates the feeling of fear.

These drugs can be used for short durations for instance, when panic attacks occur or if you are experiencing extreme anxiety. They can help ease the symptoms within 30 to 90 minutes after taking them. Unlike SSRIs, benzodiazepines don't remain in the body for long. They are fast-acting and often work in a matter of hours, making them ideal for situations where quick relief is needed (like during an airplane flight or prior to giving a public presentation).

As they can be addictive, people are usually prescribed for a period of up to four weeks at a time. After that time they lose their effectiveness.

One of the reasons benzodiazepines became so popular is that they worked and had few side effects when compared to their predecessors, like meprobamate or barbiturates. They have a quick start of action and are very useful as anxiolytics (anti-anxiety), sedatives, anticonvulsants as well as as muscle relaxants.

Benzos have been blamed for treating anxiety disorders the negative attitudes towards anxiety that developed in the 1970s and 1980s, including the denial of the disorder and the perception that benzodiazepine treatment causes physical dependence. Yet, benzodiazepines continue to play a major part in the treatment of anxiety disorders, especially when combined with psychosocial interventions, such as cognitive behavioral therapy and other interpersonal therapies.

Benzos can interact with other drugs and cause unwanted side-effects, like drowsiness or confusion. It is important to inform your doctor about any prescription, nonprescription or herbal medications that you currently use or plan to take. Take a look at the British National Formulary A to Z list of interactions with medications to find out which medications are safe with benzodiazepines.

Antidepressants

Antidepressants can help ease anxiety and other mental health conditions. According to the anxiety headache treatment and Depression Association of America, antidepressants -- like SSRIs and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) -- can help reduce chronic anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorders and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). The FDA has approved many antidepressants for other health conditions as well, including eating disorders, certain kinds of pain, and bipolar disorder.

SSRIs are usually prescribed as a first-line treatment for anxiety by doctors, however they may not work for all people. If the antidepressants do not work the doctor might suggest an older type known as a tetracyclic or tricyclic antidepressant. These include amitriptyline, nortriptyline, clomipramine, trimipramine, doxepin and dothiepin or imipramine. These antidepressants are less common but are still available. You can ask your doctor to prescribe the sedating antidepressant, trazodone(Desyrel), at lower doses if you're having sleep problems or anxiety.

Nefazodone, also referred to as Ferdinand (Cymbalta), and duloxetine are also useful. They are also available in generic forms. If they aren't working, your physician might suggest a sedating antidepressant mirtazapine (Remeron) or the antipsychotics olanzapine and quetiapine.

Beta blockers are used to treat anxiety disorders. They lower blood pressure and heart rate by blocking adrenaline. These drugs are not usually used to how treat anxiety and depression anxiety by themselves, but they can be effective when coupled with psychotherapy.

Psychological therapy can help you change negative thoughts and behaviours that can cause anxiety. It will help you learn to manage your anxiety and develop coping skills. Based on your specific situation, you may be treated with exposure or cognitive behavioural therapy. Cognitive behavioural therapy assists you to learn to challenge unhelpful, fearful thoughts and overcome the fear of situations that cause anxiety. Exposure therapy is the process of increasing the level of anxiety-inducing situations until they become manageable. It can be done in a group or individually. In both cases, it takes time to show results. A combination of medication and psychological therapy is the best choice for some people. Some people find that medication alone is enough to manage symptoms. Tell your doctor how to treat anxiety without meds you manage your symptoms.

Other Medicines

Other drugs can also help alleviate your symptoms. Beta blockers, antihistamines, and buspirone are all prescribed to reduce anxiety.

These medications can help ease your symptoms, by lowering or blocking the signals that trigger anxiety and stress. However, they're not an all-in-one solution. You will still require a variety of methods to reduce anxiety, like physical exercise, relaxation techniques and psychological therapy.

Your doctor could initially prescribe one of the "first line treatment for anxiety first" anxiety medication, which includes SSRIs and SNRIs. These are the most effective medications for treating anxiety disorders, according to research studies. Common SSRIs include sertraline (Zoloft) as well as fluoxetine (Prozac) and Citropram (Celexa) and escitalopram (Lexapro). These medications may cause mild side effects like insomnia and nausea, but these tend to subside within 4-8 weeks. They aren't addictive, and they don't increase the risk of suicidal thoughts.

The benzodiazepines, alprazolam, diazepoxide and clonazepam (Valium), provide immediate relief from panic and anxiety attacks. However, they can cause side effects, such as drowsiness and dizziness. They can also cause memory and coordination issues, and may even cause dependence. These drugs are less popular than older barbiturates but are equally effective.

Antihistamines, such as Vistaril (hydroxyzine), were created to treat allergies however, they're also used to ease anxiety symptoms. Hydroxyzine block histamine receptors within the brain, and can trigger a calming effect. It is not a controlled drug and does not carry the same risk of addiction as benzodiazepines.

Another type of medication that may help with anxiety is a group of medications called anticonvulsants. They've been proven to reduce anxiety by interfering with the production and release of dopamine and serotonin. They can be prescribed in conjunction with other drugs or as a temporary treatment for anxiety. Your doctor will assess your symptoms and health history to determine whether these medications are right for you. They'll also discuss the length of time you should take them for and any possible side effects. Anxiety medication is only available by prescription, so you'll need a psychiatrist to prescribe it.